title: Role of the renin-angiotensin system in gynecologic cancers.
abstract: Recent studies have shown an activation of the local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in various tumor tissues, including the abundant generation of angiotensin II (Ang II) by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and the upregulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) expression. Thus, considerable attention has been paid not only to the role of the RAS in cancer progression, but also to the blockade of RAS as a new approach to the treatment of human cancer. There is increasing evidence that the Ang II-AT1R pathway is involved in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis in various experimental animal models, suggesting the therapeutic potential of an ACE inhibitor and AT1R blocker. In addition, specific Ang II-degrading enzymes are also expressed in tumors and play a regulatory role in tumor cell proliferation and invasion. This review focuses on the role of the RAS in the progression of gynecologic cancers, such as cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and gestational choriocarcinoma. We present here the clinical potential of blocking the RAS as a novel and promising strategy for the treatment of gynecologic cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama, Japan. kazuino@wakayama-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ino
authors.forename: Kiyosumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Eiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kajiyama
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nawa
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mabuchi
authors.forename: Shigetaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: Sawako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanizaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Fumitaka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kikkawa
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism*; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D000804:Angiotensin II